Cigar-sealing machine.



J. C. VIDAL CARO.

.CIGAR SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED sEILzz, I9I5.

Patented' May 23, 1916.

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l. C. VIDAL CARO.

CIGAR SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPLzz, I9I5.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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CIGAR SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. 1915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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A TTORNEY THE COLUMBIA PL'ANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. C. VIDAL CARO.

ClGAR SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.22. 1915.

Patent-ed May 23, 1916.

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CIGAR SEALING MACHINE.

APPucATloN FILED sPT.22. 1915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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Application led September 22, 1915.

To all whom t may concern Be it lnown that I, JOS C. VIDAL CARO, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, residing at Secretaria de Estado, in the city of Habana, Province of Habana, Republic of Cuba, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Sealing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for attaching fraud-preventing seals to cigars.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which will, as the cigars are inserted in and withdrawn from a holding device in rapid succession, automatically perforate each cigar at the tip of the same which will be clipped off before it is smoked, pass the end of a thread through the perforation of the cigar, cut this thread so that equal lengths will project from the opposite sides of the cigar, then draw these thread ends together, apply a folded paper seal to the thread ends, and finally compress the seal and preferably at the same time emboss` certain identifying marks or characters thereon.

To this end, the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts fully set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of the machine, portions of the table and the mechanism mounted thereon being broken away, showing the operative parts of the machine in the positions just preceding the penetration of the thread-aiiiXing needle through the perforations in the resilient thread-manipulating arms which are associated with the cigar holder; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. l Fig. 3 is a similar View on line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 3a is a detail elevation of a portion of the thread,J gripper operating arm and the cam associated therewith; Fig. at is a horizontal section on line 1 -i of Fig. 2; Fig-5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine on the plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig.V l, but showing the operative part of the machine in the positions which they assume at that stage when the needle is penetrating the tip of a cigar, the latter being shown engaged in the holder; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. l, the stage repre- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 52,097.

sented being the same as that in Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section through the vacuum producing device and a portion of the machine table; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the carriage for the thread-aflixing needle and one of the stationary trip devices for the threadsecuring cam mounted upon the said carriage, to show the latter in detail; Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view through the seal magazine, and portions of the sealing mechanism;'sho\ving in particular the seal moistening device which facilitates the Operation of thc seal conveyer; Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional view through the sealing and embossing device proper, parts being broken away; Fig. ll is a detail bottom plan view of the movable jaw or die of the sealing and embossing device; Fig. l2 is a transverse sectional view through a cigar tip, showing the manner in which the thread initially eX- tends therethrough after it has been cut; Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the thread en ds gathered together and positioned upon one portion or fold of the seal for the same, the line of crease of the seal being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 14 is a similar view, showing the other portion of the seal folded over the thread ends upon the first portion; and, F ig. 15 is a side elevation of a portion of a cigar, showing the seal as it is finally applied to the thread ends and after the superiuous portions of the seal itself have been removed.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates the operating table of the machine which may be supported in any suitable manner, such as upon standards or the like (not shown). Situated adjacent to the front edge of the table and approximately midway between the sides of the latter is a reversible cigar holder 2. This holder is in the form of an elongated flat member having its opposite ends tapered, and it is medially secured to the upper surface of the table by means Of a screw 3, whereby it is adapted to be reversed in position and to be secured readily therein. Adjacent to either end of the member 2 a recess 4 for the reception of the tip or mouth end of a cigar is provided in its upper surface. These two recesses are preferably constructed as shown in different sizes, so that, when cigars of at the opposite sides of each recess with` transversely alining grooves 5, which permit the thread-aflixing needle 6, which projects inwardly from its point of attachment to the transversely reciprocating carriage 7 mounted in guides 8 upon the table, to

' penetrate the tip of a cigar which is in engagement within the operative recess of the holder. (See Fig. 5.) The table 1 is provided between the guides 8 and underlying the needle carriage with a longitudinal slot 9 which registers with a similarly extending slot 10 in the carriage. The upper end of an operating lever 11 projects through these recesses for oscillatory movement therein, it being pivoted at its lower end to the fixed bracket 12 depending from the table, upon a horizontal axis 13. The needle carriage 7 is provided with a. transverse pin 14k which extends through its slot 10 and works in a longitudinal slot 15 provided in the upper end portion of the lever 11. A short driven shaft 16, which is journaled in the bracket 12 above the pivotV 13 upon an axis parallel to the latter, has secured to its forward end acircular disk 17. An eccentrically arranged pin 1S projects axially from the forward face of the disk 17 and is operativelv engaged within a longitudinal slot 19, which is provided medially within the lever 11. This slot is constructed of suilicient length to permit the pin 18 to work freely therethrough during a complete revolution of the same around the axis of the disk 17. During the operation of the machine, the shaft 16 will rotate in counterclockwise direction (see the arrow in Fig. 3) so as to impart swifter movement to the needle 6 during its forward, penetrating thrust than during its return movement.

A gear 20 is fixed to the rearmost end of the shaft 16 and is in mesh with a gear 21 which is fixedly secured to a main or driving shaft 22. This last-named shaft is arranged parallel to the shaft 16 and is j ournaled in the bearing brackets 23 which depend from the table 1 at relatively spaced points. It is intended that this shaft 22 shall be connected in some convenient manner with a suitable prime-mover. (Not shown.) Tt will be noted that the shafts 16 and 22 are connected together for rotation in opposite directions and at the same velocity, owing to the fact that the gears 20 and 21 are constructed in the ,ratio of 1 to 1. The two shafts and their respective the arrows in Fig. 2.

The length of stroke of the needle carriage 7- mustbe such that, at the end of its forward thrust, the point of the needle will project from the opposite side of the cigar holder to an extent sufficient to carry the length of thread shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, through the cigar tip. In order to prevent the protruding portion of the the thread from being withdrawn through the perforated cigar tip during return movement of the carriage, an automatic gripper is positioned at the far side of the cigar holder with respect to the needle carriage. This gripper comprises a lower stationary jaw 24, which rises above the table 1 to a level situated just below that of the needle, and an upper, movable jaw 25, which latter is mounted for vertical reciprocation upon a vertical rod 26. This rod Vis slidably mounted within a cylindrical guide casing 27 which registers with an opening in the table and extends to a convenient disjaw. An operating arm 29 for the gripper overlies the shaft 22 and has one end pivotally connected as at 30 with the lower end of the rod 26, its opposite end being pivotally connected at 31 with a bracket 32 which depends from the table 1. This lever is adapted to rest upon an actuating cam 33 which is carried by the shaft 22. This cam is timed so that it will move the rod 26 and the movable gripper jaw 25 upwardly into inoperative position against the action of the spring 2S, at the end of the return movement of the needle carriage. The cam will maintain the movable gripper jaw in this position during the forward thrust of the needle but will permit the movable jaw to drop into engagement with the stationarj7 Y jaw at the instant that the needle carriage begins its return movement. J ust as the needle. at this time, begins to move away from the gripper, the free thread end will bulge laterally because of the change in direction of movement, and this outlying curved portion of the thread will be projected between the gripper jaws so as to be caught between the same when the movable jaw falls. Due to the fact that the thread end is caught in this manner and secured during each return movement of the needle carriage, the thread will run Vfree through the eye of the needle, whereby, at the end of the 'said return movement, a length of between the cigar holderV and needle point.V

For the purpose of cutting the thread at a point midway between the end of the needle in its retracted positionand the cigar holder, a stationary lower blade 34 is mounted upon the table 1 at this point and below the level of the needle, and an upper movable blade 35 depends from a cutter head 36 which is connected fixedly with the upper ends of a pair of parallel, vertically re ciprocating rods 37. These rods are slidably mounted within vertical guide bosses 38 which project beneath the table l. The cutting edge 39 of the movable blade is given the most suitable shape for the purpose and is adapted to be maintained in spaced relation to the stationary blade 34 at all times,

Aexcept at the end of the return stroke of the needle carriage, by a spring 40. An operating lever 4l for the cutting device extends in a substantially horizontal position beneath the shafts 16 and 22 and has one end pivotally connected as at 42 medially with a cross-head 43 which connects the lower ends of the rods 37. The opposite end of the lever 4l is pivotally connected at 44 with a bracket 45 which depends from the table. The lever or follower 41 is adapted to be engaged just before the needle carriage reaches the end of its return movement a cam 46 which is fixedly secured upon the shaft 22. This cam is timed so that it will reach the position shown in Fig. 3 in particular, at the end oi" the return movement of the needle carriage, so that the movable cutter blade 35 will have been brought into engagement with the stationary blade 34 and the thread will have been severed thereby. The cam 46 will permit the movable cutter blade to rise as the needle carriage commences its forward thrust, so that the said blade will clear the needle.

The thread, which is indicated by the numeral 47, should be maintained under a certain amount of tension throughout the stretch of the same which leads from a supply spool or the like (not shown) to the needle carriage, so it is to be understood that a suitable tension device (not shown) is also provided. Owing to the presence of such a tension device, there would ordinarily be a tendency for the needle to lose the thread during its forward thrust. To prevent any such happening, a binding eccentric 48 is pivotally mounted upon the carriage 7 above the thread and adjacent to the guides 49 for the latter. This eccentric is adapted to secure the thread. against the upper surface of the carriage when in the position shownin detail in Fig. 8. As shown in this ligure and also in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the arm 50 of the eccentric has just been engaged by a stationary trip arm 5l, which is mounted upon one of the guides 8 for the needle carriage and overlies the latter. The trip arm 5l is positioned so that it will set the eccentric in this manner at the end of the return movement of the needle carriage. The eccentric will remain set during the forward thrust of the needle, but

will be released at the end of this movement when its arm 50 becomes engaged with a second, releasing trip device 52 which is disposed adjacent to the thread cutting device. As a result the thread will be free ior movement through the eye of the needle and the guide 49 on the carriage during the entire return movement of the latter.

The parts ol the machine which perform the perforating and threading oi each cigar have now been described. The next step in the operations is the arrangement of the thread preparatory to the application oi a seal to the same. This is accomplished by means of a` thread-manipulating device which will now be described. rThe carriage 53 of the thread-manipulating device is mounted for horizontal reeiprocation between the guides 54 in a path which is in line with the cigar holder and at right angles to the path of movement ot' the needle carriage. The front portion oi? the carriage 53 is in the form of an open structure 55 which is also slightly elevated so that it will pass freely over the anvil 5G ci? the scaling and embossing device which will be described in detail hereinafter. This anvil is seated in the table and projects above the same to a slight extent. A pair of coextensive thread-engaging arms 5.7 projects from the front end of the carriage structure 55. These .arms are resilient and adapted to be flexed horizontally. They are also provided with inbent free end portions 58, the extremities of which are bent outwardly in the reverse direction as at The portions 53 of the arms are adapted to meet when the carriage 53 is in its rear-most, retracted position. lVhen the arms are thus arranged, a mouth will be formed between the extremities 59 for the reception of the wedge-like rear end of the cigar holder. The said end of the cigar holder will enter the mouth between the arm ends upon movement of the rarriage in the opposite di rection toward the front oi? the table.v whereby the arms will be wedged apart and made to assume the relative positions shown particularly in Fig. l of the drawings. The portions 58 of the thread-engaging arms are provided with slots GO which are adapted to aline with the grooves 5 in the ciganholder at the rearmost end of the same, when the carriage 53 is in this position. lft should be stated at this point that the arms 57 will have assumed this relation to the cigar holder before the penetration ci, the needle 6 through a cigar which is in its operative position in engagement with the holder. As a result, the needle will pass through the arm slots 60 during its movement in both directions, thereby leaving the thread in the slots.

During the rearward movement of the carriage 53, actuated by means which will be described presently, the ends of the arms 57 will move inwardly along the inclined side faces of the rear end of the cigar holder Vso as to approach each other and at the becoming accidentally extracted from the slots in the said arms. Even after the arms have cleared the cigar holder, they will grip the thread ends between their inbent portions 58. As the carriage continues its rearward movement, the thread ends will be drawn in the same direction over the anvil 56 -of the sealing and embossing device, where they will be permitted to rest upon the rearmost enlarged portion (considering its direction of movement into operative position) of a seal 61, which shall have been brought into operative position overlying the said anvil. In this connection, see Fig. 13 of the drawing. The means for feeding seals to the sealing and embossing device will also be described fully hereinafter.

A horizontally movable lever 62, which is positioned beneath the table l, has one end pivotally connected at 63 to the table, whereas its opposite end has a longitudinally extending slot 64 which is engaged with a vertical pin 65 that depends from the carriage 53 and works through a slot 66 in the table. A spring 67 exerts forward pressure upon the slotted end of the lever 62 and thereby tends to maintain the carriage 53 in its foremost position normally, and causes a roller 68 carried by the said lever to follow the actuating surface of a cam G9 which is secured ixedly to the shaft 22. This cam will serve to move the carriage of the thread-manipulating device rearwardly shortly after the needle carriage has commenced its return movement and when the needle has cleared the cigar holder and the thread-engaging arms of the manipulating device. The cam also serves to maintain the carriage 53 in its rearmost inoperative position during the sealing and embossing operations, wherein the thread-engaging arms will be in rear of the anvil of the sealing and embossing device, so as not to obstruct the movement of the sealing mechanism.

The seal feeding mechanism will now be described. In the first place, each seal, which isconstructed preferably of comparatively thin paper, comprises two relatively spaced, enlarged portions 70 and 7l which are connected by a strip.7 2. The enlarged or body portions 70 and 7l of each seal respectively will be termed hereinafter the rear and advance portions, owing to the particular direction of movement of the same when being conveyed to the anvil of the sealing and embossing device. An additional holding flap or strip 73 projects rearwardly from the rear seal portion 7 O. A number ofthese seals are super-posed and positioned within a magazine 74, which projects through an opening in the table l to a slight extent above the upper surface of the same. This upper end of the magazine is open and a plurality of instruck projections 75, which are very slight in their extent, are provided at the upper edges of the magazine for engagement with the edges of the uppermost seal. The magazine is constructed so as to conform in cross-section to the shape of the seals, and a follower plate 76 of similar shape is disposed within the magazine below the pile of seals, it being supported by a compression spring 77 which serves to feed the pile upwardly as the topmost seals are removed successively from the magazine. A conveyer for feeding the seals to the sealing and embossing device is positioned adjacent to the magazine 74 and includes a carriage 78, which is mounted for horizontal reciprocation toward and away from the anvil of the sealing and embossing device within the guides 79. An L-shaped arm 80 projects downwardly and laterally from the conveyer carriage, its vertical portion 81 being slidably movable through a slot 82 in the table, which slot extends longitudinally beneath the said carriage. The horizontal'portion 83 of the arm 8O is pivotally connected terminally as at 84C with one end of an oscillatory-reciprocating follower bar 85 which is disposed beneath the table. TheV opposite end portion of this bar is bifurcated as at 86 so that it may embrace the shaft 22, whereby it will be guided during reciproeation in a direction radial to the shaft and in its slight oscillatory-movement upon the pivot 84: as an axis. A lateral pin 87 is provided upon the bar 85 inwardly with respectto the bifurcated end thereof for sliding engagement within the substantially elliptical groove 88 of the cam'wheel 89, which is fixedly secured upon the shaft 22, and which is timed so that it will cause the conveyer carriage to be moved forwardly toward the anvil of the sealing and embossing device each time a seal has been aflixed to the thread ends projecting from a cigar and the latter has been removed from the cigar holder. This cam wheel is also adapted to move thecarriage in pump, which is positioned beneath the table 1. This cylinder is operatively associated with a stationary piston 95. The other movable cylinder' 96 of the vacuum pump is likewise associated with a iixed piston 97. )oth cylinders are connected by means of links 98 and 99 with a rocker arm 100, which latter is mounted pivotally beneath the table and is in turn connected with the sheave of an eccentric 101 connected with the shaft 22. The pump cylinder 96 is connected by means of a tube 102 with the protruding lower end of the anvil 56 of the sealing and embossing device. This anvil has a main channel 103 which is branched at its upper end into the diverging channels 104 which extend through the upper surface of the anvil. The eccentric 101 is timed so that the pump will operate to produce a vacuum in tubes 93, 92 and 90 during the movement of the conveyer carriage to the left (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and to produce a vacuum in the tube 102 during the movement of the conveyer carriage in the opposite direction. The vacuum in the tube 102 will serve to draw a seal which has been placed in proper position upon the anvil tightly against its upper surface and hold the same in this position until the sealing and embossing' operations have been completed. The free end of the tube 90 of the seal conveyer, on the other hand, is bent downwardly as at 105 so that it will overlie the enlarged portion of the topmost seal in the magazine when the conveyer carriage is in its eXtreme Vretracted position. The suction which is created in the tube 90 at this time and during the movement of the carriage toward the anvil will serve to draw the uppermost seal upwardly past the projections in the magazine into engagement with the said end of the tube. During this movement of the conveyer carriage, the tube 90 will support and convey the seal which has been picked up, over the anvil until the portion 70 of the seal is disposed medially above the latter. At the instant that a vacuum is created in the tube 102, the vaquum in tubeV 90 will be released, so that the seal will drop into engagement with the anvil. 1n order that the end 105 of the tube 90 and the seal may be elevated high enough to clear the anvil during movement into operative position, a track 106 having a cam surface is provided upon'the guides 79. A. wheel 107 carried by the tube 90 is adapted to ride upon this track. A spring 108 eX- erts downward pressure upon the tube 90 so as to maintain the wheel 107 in firm contact with the track.

In order to facilitate the extraction of each seal from the magazine, a moistening wheel 109 of absorbent material is journaled upon the conveyer carriage. This wheel is adapted to dip into the liquid contents of a well 110 when the conveyer carriage is in its retracted position, and to move over the uppermost seal in the magazine 7 4 during movement of the carriage so as to moisten the upper surface of this seal to a certain extent. This moistening of the seal, particularly when its upper surface is provided with an adhesive coating, will cause the seal to bulge upwardly and thus become released, partially at least, from the seeming projection 75 of the magazine.

The sealing and embossing device includes a frame 111 having a jaw 112 in which a vertically reciprocating plunger 113 is mounted. The lower end of this plunger forms a die for engagement with the anvil 5G and is equal in diameter and area to the upper surface of the anvil. The upper end of the plunger is pivotally connected to a lever arm 114- at a point intermediate of its ends. The lever llet has one end pivotally connected at 115 to the frame, whereas its opposite end is connected by means of a link 110 with the lower end of a sleeve 117 which is mounted upon the plunger and is thus adapted for slioht independent movement upon the latter. An annular fiange 118 is provided upon the lower end of the sleeve 117 and has a cutting edge for engagement with portions of the seal which project laterally from the anvil at the time of sealing and embossing the same. The folded strip 72 and the holding Hap 78 will be the only projecting portions of the seal, provided the body portions 70 and 71 register properly as shown particularly in Fig. 14E. The flange 118 is provided with diametrically opposite notches 119, which are positioned so that they will receive the thread ends during this cutting operation, so that the latter will not become severed. The functioning faces of the die and anvil are intended to be shaped so that they may emboss any desired identitying characters or design upon the outer surfaces of the seal.

The lever 114 of the sealing and embossing device is connected by means of a link 120, which passes through an opening in the table, with a follower lever 121, which latter is positioned beneath the table and has one end pivotally connected as at 122 with a depending bracket 123 which is connected with the table. .f1 spring 1211 exerts upward pressure upon the follower so as to normally maintain the same in elevated position, wherein the die of the sealing and embossing device will be in inoperative position. The free end of the follower 121 is adapted to be engaged by a cam 125', which is timed so that it will depress the follower and thus operate the die of the sealing and embossing device at a time just subsequent to the folding of the seal by mechanism which will be described presently.

Ascal creaser and holder is disposed adtionary jaws 131 and 132 which are mounted upon the table beneath the members 126 and 127' respectively. The flange of the member 127 extends slightly lower than the flange of the other member 126 and is adapted to engage within a groove 133 in the upper surface of the stationary jaw 132. For this reason, the members 126 and 127 vare mounted for independent movement.

De'liecting arms are provided upon the side portions of the open structure 55 of the thread-manipulating carriage and have laterally projecting portions 134 for engagement with the upper edges of the seal creasing and holding members. The upper edges of the said members 126 and 127 are provided adjacent to their forward ends with elevated cam portions 135, which will be engaged by the deflecting arms of the` threadmanipulating carriage during the latter part of its movement toward the front of the machine, whereby the members 126 and 127 will be depressed against the actions of their retracting springs 136 so as to cause their flanges 130 to bear against the flap 73 and connecting strip 72 of the seal which may be mounted upon the anvil 56 and stationary jaws 131 and 132. These flanges of both members will serve to hold the seal more effectively in position, and the flange of the member127 will also serve to crease the strip 72 along the dotted line in Fig. 13 by pressing the same into the groove 133 of the jaw 132. This action will cause the advance body portion 71 of the seal to be flexed upwardly to a slight extent. This portion of the seal will in this position over- V lie the substantially horizontal arm 137 of a seal folder. This arm 137 is fixedly mounted upon a horizontal rock-shaft 138, which is mounted in bearings 139 upon the table. A pinion 140 carried by this rockshaft is in mesh with a segmental rack 141, which projects through a -slot 142 in the table and is pivoted beneath the same upon a depending bracket 143. An integrally formed arm 144 projects from the rack member 141 toward the shaft 22. The rack member is maintained normally in a position wherein the folder arm 137 will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by means of a spring 145. A striker arm 146 is mounted upon the shaft 22 and is timed so that it will strike the tip of the arm 144 to throw the segmental rack, just as the carriage of the thread-manipulating device commences its rearward movement into retracted position. As the striker arm rides past the arm 144, it will move the rack to such an extent that the folder arm 137 will move in clockwise direction (Fig. 3) through approximately 180o to fold the advance portion 71 of the seal in operative position over the rear portion and the interposed thread ends. This folding-operation will just precede the downward sealing movement of the die plunger 113. Before the plunger has begun to descend, however, the spring 145 will have retracted the segmental rack and the folder yarm into inoperative, unobstructing position.

It is to be understood that the seals used in connection with the machine may either be coated with adhesive material in their manufacture, or may be thus coated while being operated upon in the present machine.

It will be necessary therefore to moistenV the upper surface of at least the portion 70 of a seal when it is mounted upon the die of the sealing and embossing device, either with water or with adhesive liquid. For this purpose, an absorbent roller 147 is journaled within the open structure 55 of the carriage 53 adjacent to the forward end of the same and is adapted to traverse a seal mounted upon the anvil during the movement of the said carriage in both directions. This roller is adapted to contact with a larger absorbent roller or wheel 143 which is journaled within a well 149 and is Apartially immersed in the liquid contents of the well, whether it be water or adhesive liquid. This well is seated within an opening in theV table 1 and only projects to a very slight extent above the same.V The roller 147 will thus derive its charge of moistening or adhesive liquid and will convey the sameV to the seal during the movement of the carriage 53. Y

While effective means has been provided for rendering the upper surface of a seal positioned upon the die of the sealing and embossing device stickyso that the two body portions of the seal will adhere together when compressed by the die of the sealing and embossing device, it is to be understood that it would be practicable to employ the seal moistening roller 109 in the same capacity by merely broadening the same. This is a mechanical expedient which may be resorted to in practice without departing from the scope of the invention and does not require illustration. In this connection it may be stated that the well 110 for the roller 109 is connected by means-of a tube 150 with a reservoir (not shown) whereby a constant level of liquid within the well will be maintained. Y j

lthe sleeve descends farther, will shear the projecting flap and strip por- In the operation of the sealing and embossing device, the die plunger 113 will strike the seal mounted upon the anvil 56 before the cutting edge of the sleeve flange 118 touches the seal, but the sleeve will move with greater' speed than the plunger and, as its cutting edge tions of the seal from the body portions thereof very effectively. These waste portions will be free to fall through slots 151 in the table, so that they will not collect around the anvil and obstruct the operation of the machine.

The various operative parts of the machine have been taken up in the foregoing specific description substantially in the order in which they perform their succemive functions during the operation of the machine, so the operation should be already well understood and description of the same will not be repeated.

Having thus described the invention what it is desired to claim and to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States of Amerlca 1s:

1. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, 4means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, and means for sealing the protruding ends of the thread together.

2. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, means for applying an adhesive seal to the protruding thread ends, and means for impressing the seal.

3. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a. reciprocating needle adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder and to pass a length of thread through the same, means for severing the thread after its insertion, and means for sealing the protruding thread ends.

L1. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a reciprocating carriage mounted at one side of the holder, a needle projecting from the carriage and adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder, the said needle having an eye for the thread, means for operating the needle carriage, means for gripping the free end of the thread at the side of the holder opposite to the said carriage as the latter commences its return movement after penetra-tion of the cigar, means for cutting the thread at a point located between the holder and the needle carriage when the latter is in its retracted position, and means for afixing a seal to the protruding thread ends after each cigar threading operation.

5. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a reciprocating carriage mounted at one side of the holder, a needle projecting from the carriage and adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder, the said needle having an eye for the thread, means for operating the needle carriage, means for gripping the free end of the thread at the side of the holder opposite the said carriage as the latter commences its return movement,

after penetration of the cigar, means for cutting the thread at a point located between the holder and the needle carriage when the latter is in its retracted position, means for gathering the protruding ends of the thread together after the latter is cut, and means tor afiixing a seal to the said thread ends.

G. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a. reciprocating carriage mounted at one side of the holder, a needle projecting from the carriage and adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder, the said needle having an eye for the thread, means for operating the needle carriage, means for gripping the free end of the thread at the side of the holder opposite to the said carriage as the latter commences its return movement after penetration of the cigar, means for clamping the thread to the carriage during operative movement of the latter toward the holder, means for releasing said thread clamping means when the carriage reaches the end of its operative movement, means for cutting the thread at a point located between the holder and the needle carriage when the latter is in its retracted position, and means for aflixing a seal to the protruding thread ends after each cigar threading operation.

7, A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a reciprocating needle adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder and to pass a length of thread through the same, means for severing the thread. after its insertion, a thread manipulating device comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation transversely with respect to the path of movement of the needle, means for operating said carriage, and a pair of arms provided upon the carriage and adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the holder when the carriage is in its operative position, the said arms being' provided with registering slots adapted to be penetrated by the needle and thread, the said arms being adapted to draw the protruding thread ends toward each other at one side of the path of movement of the needle during movement of the said carriage into its retracted position. and means for aflixing a seal to the thread ends after they have been gathered together by this manipulating device 8. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, a source of supply of thread, a reciprocating needle adapted to penetrate a cigar engaged with the holder and to pass a length of thread through the same, means foisevering the thread after its insertion, a thread manipulating device comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocation transversely with respect to the path of movement of the needle, means for operating said carriage, and a pair of arms provided upon the carriage and adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the holder when the carriage is in its operative position, the said arms being provided with registering slots adapted to be penetrated by the needle and thread, the said arms being adapted to dran7 the protruding thread ends toward each other at one side of the path of movement of the needle during movement of the said carriage into its retracted position, and means for ailixing a seal to the thread ends after they have been gathered together by this manipulating device, the said holder being provided ivith a tapering end portion facing the carriage of the thread manipulating device and having converging surfaces for frictional engagement with the said arms, the arms being resilient and adapted normally to press against each other at their ends.

9. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforL ting a cigar engaged with the holder and passingV a j length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for conveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device bctvveen operations of the die thereof, means for rendering the upper surface of each of the seals sticky, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder and for drawing the said thread ends over the seal mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, and means for folding the seal upon the said thread ends before the movement of the die toivard the anvil in compressing the seal. Y

10. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and passing a length of thread therethrough, a sealing device positioned adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a die movably associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of superimposed seals of sheet material Vand having an open upper end for the ejection of the seals, a seal conveyer comprising a movable carriage Vwhich reciprocates in the direction of the anvil, a tubular member mounted upon the carriage and having an open end Vadapted to overlie the open end of the magazine and to traverse the anvil during reciprocation of the carriage, means for producing a vacuum in the said tubular member during movement of theV carriage-toward the anvil alone, means for securing each seal to the anvil as it is placed upon the same, means for rendering the upper surface of each seal sticky, means for gathering the thread ends protruding from a cigar together and drawing the same over a seal mounted upon the anvil, and means for holding the seal upon the said thread endsl just prior to the movement of the sealing die toward the anvil when compressing the seal.

11. A. machine for sealingcigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holderand passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed Vadjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means'V for conveying the seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device between operations of the die thereof, means for gathering the protruding ends of the thread Which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends over the seal mounted upon the anvil ofthe sealing device, and means for folding the seal upon the said thread ends before the movement of the die toward the anvil in compressing the seal. Y

12. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating la cigar engaged with the holder and passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated With the anvil, a cutting device carried by the die, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for vconveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device betweenV operations of the die thereof, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends over the seal mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, and means for folding the seal upon the said threadk ends before the movement of the die toward the anvil in compressing the seal, the cutting device of the sealing die being adapted to remove the projecting portions of the seal therefrom at' the time of compressing the seal.-

13. A4 machine for sealing cigars compris- Y ing a holder, means for perforating Aa cigar engaged with the holder and passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, a cutting device carried by the die, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for con` veying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device between operations of the die thereof, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends over the seal mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, and means for folding the seal upon the said thread ends before the movement of the die toward the anvil in compressing the seal, the cutting device of the sealing die being adapted to remove the projecting portions of the seal therefrom at the time of compressing the seal, and being connected with the die operating means for slight independent movement with respect to the die.

14. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and for passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a

movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for conveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device between operations of the die thereof so as to mount a portion of each seal upon the anvil, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends'over the said portion of the seal which is mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, means for creasing the seal, and means for subsequently folding the outlying portion of the seal upon the first-named portion and the thread ends mounted thereon.

15. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and for passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sea-ling device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for conveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device between operations of the die thereof so as to mount a portion of each seal upon the anvil, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends over the said portion of the seal which is mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, means for creasing the seal, and means for subsequently folding the outlying portion of the seal upon the first-named portion and the thread ends mounted thereon, the said seal creasing means being comprised of a lower jaw positioned adjacent to the said anvil and having a transverse groove adapted to underlie the connecting portion of a seal mounted upon the anvil, an upper jaw disposed in alinement with the groove of the lower jaw, and means for operating the said upper jaw to cause the same to descend and press a portion of the seal into the said groove just prior to the operation of the folding means.

16. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and for passing a length of thread through the perforation formed, a sealing device disposed adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the die, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for conveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device between operations of the die thereof so as to mount a portion of each seal upon the anvil, means for gathering the protruding ends of a thread which has been engaged with a cigar in the holder together and for drawing the said thread ends over the said portion of the seal which is mounted upon the anvil of the sealing device, means for creasing the seal, and means for subsequently folding the outlying portion of the seal upon the first-named portion and the thread ends mounted thereon, the said folding means being comprised of a pivoted arm mounted adjacent to the anvil of the sealing device and adapted to engage the outlying portion of a seal mounted upon the anvil upon being swung inwardly to fold the said port-ion over the portion engaged with the anvil, and means for operating the said arm.

17. A machine for sealing cigars comprising a holder, means for perforating a cigar engaged with the holder and for passing a length of thread therethrough, a sealing device positioned adjacent to the holder and consisting of an anvil, a movable die associated with the anvil, and means for operating the said die, the said anvil being provided with air passages opening through its upper surface, a source of supply of seals of sheet material, means for conveying seals successively from the said source to the anvil of the sealing device, means for creating a vacuum in the passages of the said anvil during the time that each seal is engaged with the same to hold it securely in position, means for gathering the ends of a thread which extends through the perfora- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. Y

. JOSE C. VIDAL CARO.

Witnesses:

DUDLEY B. HOWARD, JOHN C. SANDERS.

Copies et this patent msy be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. G. i 

